Prosthetic valve leaflet

Abstract

Embodiments include a valve leaflet for an implantable valve device comprising a leaflet body. The leaflet body comprising a free edge configured for coaptation with free edges of one or more other valve leaflets; and a root edge disposed opposite the free edge. The free edge defining an edge profile comprising a peak and valleys disposed on opposite sides of the peak. Other embodiments are also included herein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve leaflet for an implantable valve device comprising:
 a leaflet body comprising:
 a free edge configured for coaptation with free edges of one or more other valve leaflets, wherein the free edge extends from a first end to a second end; and 
 a root edge disposed opposite the free edge; 
 
 the free edge defining an edge profile comprising:
 an offset central peak, wherein the offset central peak is disposed on the free edge and is offset from a center point between the first end and the second end of the free edge, and 
 valleys disposed on opposite sides of the peak. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the leaflet body is greater at the offset central peak than at the valleys. 
     
     
       3. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the leaflet body at the offset central peak is from 0.3 to 0.4 mm and at the valleys is from 0.2 to 0.3 mm. 
     
     
       4. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the offset central peak and the valleys along an axis extending from the free edge to the root edge is approximately 0.5 mm to 4 mm. 
     
     
       5. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the offset central peak and the valleys along an axis extending from the free edge to the root edge is approximately 1 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
       6. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the offset central peak and the valleys along an axis extending from the free edge to the root edge is approximately 5 to 20 percent of the overall height of the leaflet body along the same axis. 
     
     
       7. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the offset central peak and the valleys along an axis extending from the free edge to the root edge is approximately 10 to 15 percent of the overall height of the leaflet body along the same axis. 
     
     
       8. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the offset central peak and each adjoining valley along an axis perpendicular to the axis extending from the free edge to the root edge is from 4 mm to 9 mm. 
     
     
       9. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the offset central peak at ½ height is from 10 to 20 percent of the overall width of the leaflet body excluding any commissural mounting tabs. 
     
     
       10. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the leaflet body excluding any commissural mounting tabs is from 20 to 30 mm. 
     
     
       11. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , the leaflet body further comprising commissural mounting tabs disposed on opposed lateral sides of the leaflet body. 
     
     
       12. A valve leaflet for an implantable valve device comprising:
 a leaflet body comprising a coaptation edge configured for coaptation with coaptation edges of one or more other valve leaflets; 
 the coaptation edge extends from a first end to a second end, the coaptation edge defining an edge profile comprising an offset convex portion, wherein the offset convex portion is offset from a center point between the first end and the second end, wherein the offset convex portion has a width that is less than a width of the coaptation edge; 
 wherein a width of the offset convex portion at ½ height relative to the rest of the coaptation edge is less than half of a width of the leaflet body. 
 
     
     
       13. The valve leaflet of  claim 12 , wherein the edge profile further comprises:
 a first concave portion disposed on a first lateral side of the offset convex portion; and 
 a second concave portion disposed on a second lateral side of the offset convex portion. 
 
     
     
       14. The valve leaflet of  claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the leaflet body is greater at the offset convex portion than at the first concave portion and the second concave portion. 
     
     
       15. The valve leaflet of  claim 12 , wherein the valve leaflet comprises tissue obtained from an animal. 
     
     
       16. The valve leaflet of  claim 1 , wherein each edge profile comprises at least four inflection points.